Your roof is much more than just the top of your home. It adds to the appearance of your home (in a good way or bad way, depending on its condition) but it also protects your home from rain, wind, snow, animals, sun, etc.
Unfortunately, roofs don’t last forever. Most roofs last between 15 and 20 years, depending on where you live, the weather conditions in your area, and the roofing material. If you find yourself in need of a new roof, you probably want to know the average cost of a roof replacement from a spring roofing contractor.
Before you start getting estimates, educate yourself on roofing materials, the cost, and what impacts that. Read on to learn more information about replacing your roof.
The Average Cost of a Roof Replacement Depends
The average cost of a roof replacement in the US depends on many different factors, including the type of roofing material, area of the country, size, pitch, and whether there are any special features, such as a chimney or skylight.
Before getting into pricing, it’s important to understand how roofing contractors estimate costs. Roofers charge homeowners per roofing square. Each roofing square is 100 square feet (10 feet by 10 feet). So a 2,000 square foot roof is broken into 20 squares.
Your roofer will give you a price per square. This price will include materials, labor costs, and removal and disposal of your old roof. Considering all of these factors, the average roof replacement cost is between $7800 and $11,000.
Roofing Materials
The bulk of the cost of your roof, about 60%, will come from the materials. In addition to your shingles, which we’ll talk about in more detail below, there are other materials necessary to replace your roof which you’ll pay for. These include:
Aluminum drip edge: this is installed near the roof’s edge and allows water to flow off the edge of the roof and away from your home.
Flashing: this is the metal that is installed under the siding and shingles where the vertical part of your home meets the horizontal part of the roof. This also helps water move freely toward the edge of your roof and away from your home. If you don’t have flashing, the water will sit on the roof and rot the wood over time.
Underlayment: is a felt paper that is between the wood and shingles. This gives you an extra layer of protection from water and severe weather. There are three main types of underlayment, including asphalt-saturated felt, synthetic underlayment, and rubberized asphalt underlayment.
Asphalt-saturated and synthetic are water-resistant and rubberized asphalt is waterproof. Synthetic underlayment is the preferred choice of most roofers today. If you have the funds, however, rubberized asphalt underlayment is the only one that gives you a truly waterproof layer.
Plywood: underneath the shingles and underlayment is plywood. If there are damaged areas, you may have to replace some or all of the wood on your roof with sheets of plywood.
Shingle Types
The biggest chunk of material costs will come from your shingles. While most homes in the US have asphalt shingles, they aren’t the only option out there. Some other shingle materials include tile, slate, and metal.
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are the most common because they are the least expensive. There are two types: fiberglass and organic.
Fiberglass shingles are made of a fiberglass base mat and covered with a waterproof asphalt coating. The ceramic granules on the top of the shingles protect UV rays from damaging them.
Fiberglass shingles generally have a longer warranty than organic shingles and are safer in a fire. These are the shingles of choice for roofers installing asphalt shingles.
Organic shingles have a layer of felt paper that is saturated with asphalt to waterproof them. They are then coating with adhesive asphalt and then ceramic granules are embedded in them.
Because they have more asphalt than fiberglass shingles, they are heavier and more expensive. Not to mention, the higher asphalt content makes them not great for the environment compared to fiberglass shingles.
Asphalt shingles come in a variety of colors and are extremely durable, with most companies giving a 15 to 30-year warranty on your asphalt roof.
Tile
Tile roofs are extremely durable, lasting up to 100 years in some cases. You’ll pay a pretty penny for this durability though. Historically, most tile roofs are made of slate, fired clay, or terra cotta. Now, though, many roof tiles are made of molded and tinted concrete.
Tile roofs are common in areas that have extremely hot weather or are exposed to salt sea air, like coastal California and Florida and in the southwest, which experiences extreme heat.
Metal
Roofs made of metal are durable and unique. They come in many different colors and finishes and are designed to resist rust and corrosion. They are also low maintenance and last a long time—sometimes as long as 50 years if you properly maintain them.
Not only are they durable, but they are also energy efficient. They reflect the sun’s rays, which helps keep your home cool. They are also a good choice for areas that get
high winds, such as coastal areas at risk of hurricane damage, as they can withstand winds up to 120 mph.
Labor
The remaining costs for your roof replacement come from the labor costs. Labor costs will include the removal of the old roof as well as the installation of all of the materials for a new roof.
Disposal
You will also need to pay for the disposal of the materials that are removed from your roof. There are ways to recycle the materials, so check with your roofing contractor to see what they do with the shingles they remove.
Permits
Finally, your contractor will need to get a permit to replace your roof. Each county has different requirements and processes, but your contractor will likely be familiar with them and handle the application for you. This permit will cost a few hundred dollars.
Raise the Roof
Now that you have a little more insider knowledge about the average cost of a roof replacement, you can go into the estimate process educated about what to expect. Be sure to get all of your questions answered by your contractor before work begins.
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